STRAWBERRY. 53 



The richer and better the soil, the more rapid will be the 

 production of roots, whether in frames or the open ground. 



I have found it to be a good plan to cover the entire 

 surface of the soil with fine compost of pure manure be- 

 fore the runners start in spring. 



The runners draw their sustenance from the parent plant 

 until they have formed roots sufficient for self-support, 

 [t is therefore important that their roots shall find some- 

 thing to feed upon soon after they are emitted. If water 

 can be liberally applied to the beds it will insure the emis- 

 sion of roots very rapidly. 



PROPAGATION BY ROOT DIVISIONS. 



This mode is seldom practiced except with the bush 

 Alpine Strawberries, which produce few or no runners. 



The best time to divide these is in the early spring, tak- 

 ing up the stools and dividing them, leaving only one crown 

 to the plant. If the old root is very long, it is best to cut 

 off the lower end, and plant as deep as can be done with- 

 out covering the leaves. 



SOIL AND SITUATION. 



There is probably no one kind of soil that is equally 

 well adapted to every variety. A deep, rich, sandy loam 

 has been more generally recommended than any other, 

 and is perhaps the best, all things considered, that could 

 be named. 



Still a light sand or heavy clay may be, with a very little 

 expense, brought into a condition to produce abundant 

 crops of very fine Strawberries. 



Some varieties seem to thrive best on a soil in which 

 clay predominates, while others do best in a light rich sand. 



A deep soil, whether it be naturally light or heavy, is 

 one of the requisites imperatively demanded by the Straw- 

 berry. If the soil is naturally very wet it may require un- 

 derdraining ; but there are few farms on which a situation 



